Sinfully Angelic

Chapter 08

08 : wear your glasses

"This is your work?" tanong ni Cairren habang kinikilatis ang bawat sulok ng aking project. She had a raised eyebrow on her face while tilting the board back and forth.

I laughed mirthlessly, convincing myself that this was just another of their silly games. "Akin na Cair." Pilit kong iniabot iyon pero patuloy lamang siya sa pagtaas at pag-ilag nito. Matangkad siya at hindi rin ako katangkaran kaya lagi akong bigo.

I probably looked as red as a tomato from all the embarrassment the moment I pulled it out from my tote and showed them my artwork. I already regretted it. Other people in our class were oblivious to my agitation. Siguro ay nasanay na sa ingay at biruan naming magkakaibigan.

"Anong klaseng art ba 'yan, Emi? Nakakatakot naman!" ani Sharm habang nakaupo sa desk ni Cairren, hindi maipinta ang mukha.

Dahil sa sinabi niya ay tumatangong sumang-ayon si Katrina na kasalukuyang nagtitirintas sa buhok ni Sharm. "Totoo! Anong ini-express mo d'yan?"

"Expressionism ba talaga 'to o abstract?" patuloy na nakataas ang kilay na tanong ni Cair.

"Basta, akin na kasi," ulit ko. Hindi ko alam kung mahina lang ba ang boses ko o pinipigilan ko lang ang sarili na hindi mapasigaw kaya lumalabas itong mahina. Nagsimula na ring mag-init ang ilalim ng aking mga mata dahil sa emosyong nagtitimpla sa aking damdamin.

God, I can't cry! I know, I can't!

I remembered how Rien told me to just paint what I felt. So, I scribbled on the board with black, orange, and red oil paints in no proper direction. It did look abstract, though it more resembled hell.

I couldn't help it. I painted in rage. Ginusto ko na ring matapos na, kaya kung ano na lang ang naisip ang ginawa ko. And I wasn't an artist. It was the best I could do.

"Woah, mukhang impyerno!" Mas bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko nang biglang hinablot ni Jenise ang board. Tumuntong pa talaga siya sa isang desk para maagaw ito kay Cair. Muntik pang mayupi 'yong gawa ko.

Nakabuka ang bibig ni Jen habang tinitignan ito na para bang manghang-mangha. Hindi pa siya nakuntento at iniharap niya pa 'yon sa iba. "Tignan niyo guys 'tong gawa ni Emi!" Lumingon agad ang lahat dahil sa lakas ng boses niya.

Doon ako tuluyang nanghina. Ang daming nagbulungan at ang daming tumingin din sa 'kin. Baka isipin nila na gano'n nga ang buhay ko—parang impyerno.

Naramdaman ko ang mas lalong pag-init ng aking pisngi habang tinitingala si Jenise sa itaas ng desk na nagpatuloy sa ginagawa. I helplessly just begged, secretly hoping for it to end.

"Akin na..." Kaunti na lang at baka tuluyang bumigay ako.

Just where the hell is this cheerful girl that I had built? She can't cry now over a thing like this!

Parang dumaan ang anghel ng kamatayan ay malakas na suminghap si Jenise at biglang tumahimik ang buong silid. The raucous was instantly silenced by a daunting physique at the center of the classroom. The eerie atmosphere that flew around sent goosebumps on my skin.

"She said she wants it back. Bingi ka ba?" His voice was dense and raspy that I would have really mistaken it as the voice of the grim reaper.

I shuddered at how deep his tone was, more so, his huge and dark presence beside me. Pati ang mga kaklase namin ay halos sabay-sabay na nagsinghapan at tumigil na para bang huminto ang oras.

I looked up at him and it was my turn to gasp. Tila umaapoy ang kaniyang mga matang tinititigan si Jenise. His sinister eyes traced every single one of my friends that they blenched. Terrified was what was written on their faces.